Christian Rowland writing for ODOGWU MEDIA...The Nigerian Army has announced that Exercise CROCODILE SMILE II will commence on Friday.

The Army said the exercise which will “span across three Divisions of
the Nigerian Army, 2,6 and 81” is in line with the training of troops
in the “conduct of Internal Security Operations.”

A statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman,
added that Exercise CROCODILE SMILE II was “based on Constitutional
provisions.”

Recall that the Army had last year launched the operation in the Niger Delta region of the country.
The statement reads, “The Exercise, set to span across 3 Divisions of
the Nigerian Army (2, 6 and 81 Divisions), is in line with the 2017
Training Directives which aims at training troops in the conduct of
Internal Security Operations in aid of Civil Authorities across the
various formations’ areas of responsibilities, based on Constitutional
provisions.

“It will be recalled that last year, between November and December
2016, Exercise CROCODILE SMILE I was conducted within the Niger Delta
States to curtail prevailing security challenges then. These challenges
include illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, kidnapping and
militancy amongst others. Exercise CROCODILE SMILE II is specifically
designed to further the gains and consolidate on the successes of
Exercise CROCODILE SMILE I.

“Additionally, with the operationalization of 6 Division Nigerian
Army, earlier in the year, the need to exercise troops in an amphibious
environment makes it expedient to hold Exercise CROCODILE SMILE II.
Moreover, this exercise will complement the on-going Exercise EGWU EKE
II in the South-Eastern part of the country.

“Let us not be quick to forget the scenario in which these exercises
are carried out. EGWU EKE II became expedient due to the mindless
assassinations (even in religious places), attack on security personnel,
theft of weapons, armed banditry, kidnapping and cultism, among other
security challenges. In a similar vein, security challenges in the South
West and Niger Delta geo-political regions such as illegal oil
bunkering, pipeline vandalism, cultism, kidnapping, militancy and other
challenges are becoming rampant.

“The need for troops to sharpen their skills to cope with these
security challenges within the 2, 6 and 81 Divisions’ Area of
Responsibilities calls for the conduct of Exercise CROCODILE SMILE II.
Also, in actualizing the Chief of Army Staff’s vision, which is to ‘To
have a Professionally Responsive Nigerian Army in the Discharge of its
Constitutional Roles’, accentuates the call for the conduct of this
exercise in conjunction with sister services and other security
agencies.

“This exercise will therefore be conducted with the involvement of
other security agencies such as the Nigerian Police and Nigeria
Security, Department of State Services, Nigerian Security and Civil
Defence Corps, Nigeria Customs Service and National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency, just to mention a few.
“EXERCISE CROCODILE SMILE II is also conceptualized to leverage on
real time intelligence to curtail insecurity, thereby fulfilling both
training and operational objectives.

“Accordingly, Exercise Headquarters would be established in the field
to facilitate open communication between members of the public and
exercising troops. Emphasis will be placed on raids, cordon and search
operations, anti-kidnapping drills, road blocks, check points and other
amphibious operations. Community support activities such as medical
outreaches will also feature prominently during the Exercise.
“In this regard, members of the public are enjoined not to panic on
seeing the movement of military equipment and troops to staging areas as
their safety and well-being is guaranteed at all times. The public is
also requested to remain vigilant, security conscious and report
suspected criminals who will likely flee the military exercise areas to
find safe haven among communities.

“Contact phone numbers of all Brigade Commanders in the exercise
areas would be made public in addition to the Nigerian Army short code
Information and call Centre 193. You are please requested to disseminate
this information to the public through your medium.”